Erik Pieters has adapted to the English top flight tremendously since moving from PSV Eindhoven over the summer, and Mark Hughes appears to have gotten his hands on a well-rounded asset who likes to help out in attack.

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Sunderland haven't scored in their last three games away from home and, although Hughes' Stoke City are a bit less defensively minded than they were under Tony Pulis, there's a good opportunity for clean-sheet points at the Britannia.

Pieters also has two assists in his last three games and has a superb target to aim for in Peter Crouch, who will look to provide the difference over the Black Cats on Saturday.

Granted, one of those assists was for Asmir Begovic's freak goal, but at least the defender can see the funny side of things:

With Michu picking up an ankle injury and set to miss out on the action this weekend, it's likely that Jonathan De Guzman will be the man used in an attacking midfield role by Michael Laudrup.

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The versatile Dutchman tends to thrive when pushed into a more advanced position, and it only helps further that the 26-year-old takes set pieces for Swansea City.

Fulham have conceded an average of 1.80 goals per game at Craven Cottage this term and have one of the worst home defences in the English top flight, giving the Swans every chance of notching some goals in West London.